The Secrets of the Lost Forest

The castle stilled, the walls returned to their place, and the shadows vanished as if they had never existed. The room was once again filled with silence, and the book remained in Vera’s hands, no longer glowing, but full of power and ancient knowledge.

“We did it,” Lena said with relief, looking at her friends. “But what now?”

“Now we have to decipher this book,” Kostya said, carefully studying the runes on the pages. “It might be the key to everything that’s happening in this world.”

“And we’ll figure it out,” Vera said firmly, closing the book and holding it close to her chest. “We’ll act together, and nothing will stop us.”

The friends understood that more challenges awaited them ahead, but they felt that they had found something important – the key to unlocking the secrets of this world and possibly finding their way home. And although the castle still held its mysteries, they were ready for new discoveries and adventures that awaited them behind the next doors.

Chapter 6: The Voice from the Past

When the children left the hall with the altar, they found themselves back in the gloomy corridors of the castle. The light from the book, which had previously illuminated their path, had faded, leaving them in a dim space lit only by flickering torches on the walls. Vera held the book tightly, feeling its strange warmth and weight, as if it were something alive.

“Where to now?” Kostya asked, glancing around. They were surrounded by doors and corridors, all identical, all seemingly leading deeper into the castle.

“I think the book can guide us,” Vera said, opening it and trying to understand the text on the pages. But the text was in an ancient language that none of them knew.

Lena looked closely at the pages and noticed that the text was periodically changing its symbols, as if trying to adapt to their perception.

“Look!” she exclaimed, pointing to the page. “The words are changing!”

Indeed, the text began to transform into something understandable. The pages of the book seemed to come to life, and clear symbols appeared on them, forming words and phrases the children could comprehend.

“It’s showing us the way,” Vera said, feeling the book grow lighter in her hands. “It says we must follow the light and listen to the voice.”

“The voice?” Andrei asked, trying to grasp the meaning. “What voice?”

He hadn’t finished speaking when a quiet, almost imperceptible whisper echoed around them. It was barely audible, as if coming from the very walls of the castle. The children froze, listening to this strange sound. The whisper grew clearer and finally formed words:

“Hear me… follow me…”

“That’s the voice,” Lena whispered, feeling a chill run down her spine. “But what does it mean?”

“We have to follow it,” Vera said firmly. “It will lead us to where we’ll learn more.”

They slowly moved forward, listening to the whisper that guided them through the winding corridors. The voice was strange – it sounded old, as if it belonged to someone from the distant past, but there was something familiar in it, something that inspired trust.

The path became increasingly confusing, with corridors crossing each other, creating the sensation that they were wandering in circles. But the voice continued to direct them, leading them deeper and deeper into the castle. Soon they found themselves before a massive door adorned with ancient carved patterns depicting scenes from old legends.

“We’re here,” Andrei said, carefully examining the door. “But how do we open it?”

Vera looked at the book again. On one of the pages, new symbols appeared, forming something like an incantation.

“It seems this door will open if we speak these words,” she suggested, pointing to the text.

The children gathered around, and holding the book before them, they recited the strange words, trying to pronounce each one correctly. As soon as the last word left their lips, the door slowly began to open, creaking with age.

Beyond the door was a vast hall, in the center of which stood a tall throne adorned with precious stones and intricate carvings. But the strangest thing was that a figure sat on the throne, covered in a long cloak, its face hidden under a hood. A strange glow emanated from the figure, and it seemed as though it had been there for a long time, waiting for their arrival.

“Who are you?” Lena asked, barely breathing from the tension.

The figure slowly raised its head, and the hall filled with the same voice they had heard in the corridors:

“I am the guardian of this castle. I am here to pass on the knowledge that will help you on your journey.”

“What is this knowledge?” Andrei asked, feeling the tension in the air intensify.

“Knowledge of the past that is connected to you,” the guardian replied, his voice deep and heavy. “You didn’t end up here by chance. Your destiny is tied to this world, and you must uncover its secrets to find your way home.”

Vera, clutching the book, took a step forward:

“How can we learn these secrets?”

The guardian raised his hand, and in his palm appeared an ancient map depicting the lands surrounding the castle. Several points on the map glowed, indicating locations where artifacts were hidden – the keys to unlocking the mysteries of this world.

“You must find these artifacts,” the guardian said. “Each one contains a piece of knowledge that will help you understand what happened here many centuries ago and why you ended up in this world.”

The children studied the map carefully. Each point on it was surrounded by symbols they had seen earlier in the castle.

“This is our path,” Vera whispered, realizing that their adventure was only beginning.

The guardian slowly rose from the throne and approached them. He handed the map to Vera and said:

“Be prepared. This path will not be easy. You will face many dangers and puzzles. But only by completing it can you find your way home.”

With these words, he disappeared, leaving behind only a faint scent of incense and the feeling that they had received an important message.

The children stood in the hall, realizing what lay ahead. The map in Vera’s hands had become their guide, and now they had a mission – to find the artifacts and unravel the mystery of this world.

“We must do this together,” Kostya said, looking at his friends. “Nothing will stop us.”

They gripped the map and the book tightly, understanding that a new journey full of trials and discoveries awaited them. But they were ready for anything because they knew it was their only chance to return home.

Chapter 7: The Mystery of the First Artifact

With the map in hand and determination in their hearts, the children left the throne room and found themselves once again in the dark corridors of the castle. The flickering light from the torches that lit their way swayed with each of their steps, casting long shadows on the ancient walls. This time, they moved with more confidence – they knew that another trial awaited them ahead, and they were determined to overcome it.

“There are several points marked on the map,” Andrei said, studying it closely. “But one of them is the closest. I think we should start there.”

“Yes,” Vera agreed, carefully examining the symbols on the map. “It looks like this place is near the castle, in the forest beyond the gorge.”

“But how do we get there?” Lena wondered. “The castle is locked, and we need to find a way out.”

They moved forward, trying to stay on the designated path. Each step echoed through the silent corridors, and it seemed as if the castle itself was watching them, studying their movements. After some time, they reached massive doors adorned with ancient reliefs depicting scenes from the past.

“This looks like the exit,” Kostya said, approaching the doors and placing his hand on them. They gave way surprisingly easily, swinging open with a soft creak.

Outside, they were greeted by fresh air and bright sunlight, which was unexpectedly warm after the darkness of the castle. They found themselves on a wide terrace overlooking the forest and the gorge. In the distance, among the trees, a tall hill was visible, with something shimmering at its peak, catching their attention.